Addison County VT

Biographical Sketch of Henry McLaughlin

Henry McLaughlin, who figured extensively in the early transactions of the settlers, was born in Ireland, and came to America with Burgoyne, serving as drummer boy, and remaining with the army till it marched from Ticonderoga. For a few years following he engaged in teaching school at Williamstown, Mass. He married Mary Dunton, of Dorset, Vt., sister of Ezekiel Dunton, and soon after, in March, 1787, came to Bristol, and located upon the farm now owned by Dorus S. Parmelee. He was the first proprietors’ clerk, first town clerk, and one of the committee for laying out the first division, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Roswell John Hopkins

Hopkins, Roswell John, Panton, was born in Ferrisburgh, Vt., in 1809, and died in March, 1877. He was married in 1852 to Louisa Dudley, who was born in Addison, Vt., in 1809. They had a family of two children born to them; one died in infancy, and Ella A. married Chester Allen. She died in 1880, leaving a family, only one of whom is now living — John Hopkins Allen, who was born in 1875. Louisa (Dudley) Hopkins was a daughter of Thomas and Rachel (Norton) Dudley, who were natives of Connecticut and settled in Addison county, Vt., at an … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Almon Lawrence

Lawrence, Almon, Monkton, Monkton Ridge p. o., was born in Monkton, Vt., on May 18, 1804. His early life was spent on his father’s farm until he entered Newton preparatory department. He graduated from the Burlington College in 1837, after which he taught at St. Albans for several years, and then returned to farm life. He was a son of Diah and Lucretia (Peck) Lawrence. She was born in Norwich, Conn., in 1784, and he was born in 1772. They were married in 1800 and had a family of thirteen children born to them, six of whom are now living … Read more

Biography of Aaron White

Aaron White died at Quinebaug, in the town of Thompson, April 15th, 1886, aged 87 years and six months. He was born in Boylston, Mass., October 8th, 1798, and was the eldest of ten children, seven sons and three daughters, of Aaron and Mary White. His ancestry were of the early puritan settlers of Eastern Massachusetts, and among them on the side of his mother, were the Adams’ of Boston, her grandmother being a sister of Governor Samuel Adams, a distinguished patriot of the revolution. His father kept a country store, cultivated an adjoining farm, was a leading man in … Read more

Cornwall Vermont – Early Settlements

The first settlers of Cornwall were Asa Blodget, James Bentley, James Bentley, jr., Thomas Bentley, Joseph Throop, Theophilus Allen, William Douglass, Samuel Benton, Eldad Andrus, Samuel Blodget, Sardius Blodget, Solomon Linsley, Aaron Scott and Nathan Foot. They arrived and made their pitches in 1774. The eight first named selected their lands in the east part of the township, bounding on Otter Creek, and by the change of limits, in 1796 became inhabitants of Middlebury. The remaining six made their pitches in the northern and central parts of this town. In 1775 Ebenezer Stebbins, Joel Linsley and John Holley made their … Read more

Biography of Winter H. Holley

Holley, Winter H. (deceased), Bristol, was born in Bristol, Vt., June 15, 1798, and died June 10, 1877, after a long, useful, and busy life. He was a son of Colonel Robert and Hannah (Hewitt) Holley. His father was one of the early settlers of Bristol, a distinguished Revolutionary soldier, a prominent man both in the town and county, and the first representative from Bristol to the General Assembly of the State. Winter H. was married October 26, 1820, to Mary Seymour, a daughter of William and Susan (Rubilee) Seymour, of New Haven, Vt. She died March 14, 1886, having … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Tousaint Kidder

Kidder, Tousaint, Middlebury, was born in Canada on November 1, 1837. His parents were Francis and Angelique (Mahyer) Kidder. Tousaint was educated in the common schools at St. Charles, Canada, and received a fair education. At the age of fourteen years he was apprenticed out to learn the harness-making trade, which he served for three years, after which he worked as a journeyman in Canada until the spring of 1857, when he came to the United States and settled in Middlebury, Vt. He worked for N. Brasso for two years, and then for some years during the war he bought … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Eleazer Shattuck

Shattuck, Eleazer, Lincoln, South Starksboro p. o., for about thirty years a resident of South Starksboro V t., was born in Huntington, Chittenden county, Vt., on May 6, 1825. He was a son of Peter and Electa (Grundy) Shattuck. His mother was a daughter of David Grundy, a native of Brandon, Vt. Eleazer Shattuck was a blacksmith at Huntington, Vt., where he resided for many years. Peter and Electa, his parents, had several children — Frederick (deceased), Luman, Reuben, and Eleazer. Eleazer has been married twice. His first wife was Eliza ———-, a daughter of Ephraim ———-, of South Starksboro, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Asa Willmarth

Asa Willmarth, one of the five brothers of John Willmarth, and the progenitor of the Willmarth families now in Addison, was born in Providence, R. I., April 27, 1746, and married Chloe Peck, September 20, 1770. They resided in North Adams, Mass., for a time, then immigrated to Addison in 1788, locating in the eastern part of the town. The country was then nearly an unbroken wilderness, the road to Vergennes being simply a bridle path marked by blazed trees. Asa died February 8, 1830. At the time of his wife’s death, October 22, 1829, they had lived together fifty-nine … Read more

Biographical Sketch of A. J. Cushman

Cushman, A. J. (doctor), Lincoln, was born in the town of Georgia, Franklin county, Vt.,. on May 21., 1843. His father, Francis Cushman, was a school teacher in Franklin county and also at the University of Vermont. In later life he engaged in the mercantile business. His wife was Amelia Brown, by whom he had a family of seven children, of whom A. J. is the third youngest. Dr. Cushman came to Lincoln, Vt., in 1859. He is a blacksmith by trade. He enlisted in Company A, Sixth Vermont Volunteers, infantry company, and served three years. The last two years … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Garrett Coursey Jr.

Coursey, Jr., Garrett, Panton, Vergennes p. o., was born in Ireland in 1822. He was married in 1856 to Catherine Butler. They have had a family of eight children born to them, of whom only two are now living, Edwin and Margaret (who was married to John O’Donnell). Garrett, jr., was a son of Garrett, sr., and Margaret (Ring) Coursey, who were married in Ireland. Four of their children came to America and settled in Addison county, Vt., and in 1852 Garrett and Margaret, with their other two children, came to Vermont by way of Montreal, and settled in Monkton, … Read more

Biography of Col. Sardis Dodge

DODGE, COL. SARDIS. Among the early settlers of the town of Weybridge were the ancestors of Sardis Dodge, his grandfather, Asa Dodge, sr., being one of the pioneers of that town. Sardis Dodge was born in Weybridge, Addison county, Vt., August 25, 1806, the oldest son of Asa and Mary (Gillett) Dodge. Sardis Dodge was reared after the manner of bringing up New England boys. He attended a district school in the winter season, and wrought upon the farm in the summer. In this way his time was all utilized to good advantage. Mr. Dodge has always been engaged in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Stephen W. Field

Field, Stephen W., Ferrisburgh, was born in Ferrisburgh, Vt., in 1817, and died in September, 1871. He was an extensive and successful farmer, and retired from active life in 1865. He was a prominent man of his town and held many of the town offices. He was married in 1840 to Eliza Jane Killmer, who was born at Fort Ann, Washington county, N. Y., in 1821, and was a daughter of William and Esther Killmer, who were born in Argyle, Washington county, N. Y., and died at Gouverneur, N. Y. They had a family of three children born to them, … Read more

Biography of James Hindes

James Hindes came from New Jersey in 1800, locating upon the farm now owned by Aaron Hindes, in that part of the town known as “Nortontown.” The homestead descended from James to Aaron, and thence to Aaron, jr., who has been a prominent man in town affairs, being now upwards of seventy-five years of age.

Biographical Sketch of Abel Rice

Abel, son of Adonijah, settled in town; died July, 1800, aged forty-nine years. His three sons were Jonas, Joel and Asa. Jonas became owner of the farm where his grandfather Adonijah lived from 1786 to the time of his death. Joel, the next son, was a popular physician many years in town; represented the town many times, also a senator of Addison county. He moved West late in life and died at Madison, Wis. Asa, third son, is now living at the age of eighty-eight years. He always lived at the home where his father lived and died, his son, … Read more

Addison Vermont – Municipal History

Addison is exclusively an agricultural township. Though one of the oldest and in a historical point of view one of the most important towns in the State, the only settlement within its limits at all approaching the dignity of a village is a small cluster of houses in the northeastern part of the town, and known as “The Corners.” Here is located the town hall. As early as 1830 there were two stores located here, and the mercantile business was continued down to about ten years ago, the last merchant being Stephen Gregory. Chimney Point was formerly a place of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jonah Case

Jonah Case located in the northeastern part of the town, on the old “‘Squire Arzah Crane place,” where William J. Conant recently resided. The old brick house is still standing, built by him in 1780 – the first brick dwelling erected in the county. Here he kept a public house for a long time, and the county courts were held here for several years. It is said that Case first built a log house but while putting on the roof the building was blown down, and that he then built the present house of brick manufactured on the farm. In … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dr. Norman J. Towsley

Towsley, Dr. Norman J., Panton, was born in Rupert, Vt., in 1815. He read medicine in Pawlet,Vt., and graduated from the Castleton Medical College, Vt., in 1843, after which he settled in Lincoln,Vt., in 1845, where he remained until 1846, when he settled in Panton, Vt., and now enjoys a large practice as a physician and surgeon. He was postmaster for fifteen years; town superintendent of schools for many years, and represented his town in the Assembly in 1880 and 1881. He was married in 1844 to Betsey Bromley, of Pawlet, Vt., a daughter of Lovine Bromley. They have had … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Doud Bushnell

Bushnell, Doud, Lincoln, Starksboro p. o., emigrated from Saybrook, Conn., to Wattsfield Washington county, Vt., where he resided until the time of his death, which occurred about 1845. His wife was Lucy Joyce, whom he married in Saybrook, Conn. He was a shoemaker by trade, but in later life he engaged in farming. He had his farm in the eastern part of the town. He had a family of eleven children, three daughters and eight sons. Of this family Ira was born on April 2, 1799. He married Lurinda Ferguson, a daughter of Elisha Ferguson, who was one of the … Read more